Merchandise display rack



Oct. 16, 1962 cs. J. PERKINS 3,058,597

MERCHANDISE DISPLAY RACK FilEd Sept. 19, 1960 Inventor George J.Perk|'r:$

j 14W, ammy/[9mm :H-Hornegs 7, 3,058,597 Patented Oct. 16, 1.962

3,058,597 MERCHANDISE DISPLAY RAK George J. Perkins, 44 Hawthorne Road,Barrington, Ill. Filed Sept. 15?, 1960, Ser. No. 56,873 Ciaims. (Cl.211-71) This invention relates to a display rack for use at a check-outcounter and more particularly is concerned with a display rack adaptedfor attachment to a cash register for supporting auxiliary equipment andmerchandise display containers at a point overhanging the counter.

With the advent of extensive trading stamp merchandising techniques inpresent day supermarkets, it has become expedient to providesemi-automatic trading stamp dispensing machines for each check-outcounter. It is desirable that such machines be located for convenientaccess and viewing by both the check-out clerk who must Operate thestamp machine and by the customer who wishes to obeserve and verify theclerks operation of the stamp machine. It is also desirable that themachine location is such as not to block or interfere with the efiicientflow of goods through the check-out station. Moreover, it is desirablethat the side and rear sections of the stamp machine be masked from andinaccessible to the public.

The principal object of the present invention is to meet the above needsby providing a novel display rack arrangement for convenient mountingacross the top of a cash register to support a compact machine outboardof the register and in overhanging relation to a check-out counter andto support impulse type merchandise display containers adjacent andoutwardly of the machine to be viewed by customers observing the actionof the machine.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a standardized rackstructure of the above type that is conveniently adaptable to mostregister arrangements and to both right and left hand counterarrangements.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a rackstructure of the above type that mounts to the register withoutinterfering with the location of other display structures commonlylocated directly above or to the rear of the register.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent duringthe course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, andin which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughoutthe same;

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a familiar supermarket checkout stationarrangement illustrating a cash register equipped with the rack of thisinvention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the rack and is taken on the line2-2 which is shown in both FIG. 1 and 4;

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged top plan view of the rack with parts thereof cutout;

FIG. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line 55 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary plan view illustrating details of a multiplemounting hole arrangement; and

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary plan view illustrating an alternative seatstructure on the rack.

Referring now to the drawings and particularly to FIG. 1 thereof, thereis illustrated a familiar check-out station arrangement having the usualcash register 10 situated alongside an elongated check-out counter 11.In accordance with this invention, a novel display rack arrangement isprovided and is shown as comprising a rack structure designatedgenerally at 12 mounted lengthwise along the top cover 10C of theregister total section of the cash register to extend outboard thereoffor supporting a trading stamp dispenser D or other similar type compactmachine at such outboard location and for supporting display containersC for impulse type merchandise such as combs, mechanical pencils, andother similar items, the display containers being supported adjacent andoutwardly of the dispensing machine and arranged to extend crosswise andpartially mask the machine.

=With this arrangement, both the stamp dispenser and the displaycontainers overhang the check-out counter and are conveniently visibleand accessible both to a customer being serviced at the counter and tothe check-out clerk. The stamp dispenser preferably is of a push buttonoperated type so that the check-out clerk upon noting the total purchaserecorded 'by the register may then quickly punch out the correspondingnumber of trading stamps which are automatically delivered by thedispenser machine. It is important that the dispensing machine bevisible to the customer who normally may be expected to observe andverify the clerks operation of this machine. There is advantage inlocating the machine adjacent the display containers since the machineacts to attract the customers eye to the location of the impuse typemerchandise in the display containers.

It will be noted that the rack also provides increased display space atthe check-out counter location, and this location is the most highlyprized region in the store. With this arrangement it becomes possible tomerchandise small highly desirable impulse type items which normally,due to the ease with which such item could be taken unnoticed, have notand cannot otherwise be offered to customers through self-servicechannels of distribution. The display rack arrangement, however, locatesthe items where they are under the constant surveillance of thecheck-out clerk and where they are repeatedly brought to the attentionof the customer watching the stamp dispenser machine.

Since the figures appearing in the register total section of the cashregister are located at eye level for the convenience of the averagewoman check-out clerk, there is important advantage in the use of thepresent rack arrangement which is mounted to the register cover andwhich extends horizontally therefrom so that the rack and the articlesdisplayed on it are themselves also at the eye level of the averagewoman. This is not only con venient to the check-out clerk but moreassuredly brings the rack to the attention of the customer who isusually a woman.

The display rack of this invention includes a mounting bar 14 which, asbest shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, has a generally channel-shapedcross-sectional configuration and is provided, within its channelpocket, with lengthwise spaced pairs of contact slugs 15 fixed along itsunderneath side in transversely symmetrical relation to the midwidthplane of the mounting bar. -In the arrangement illustrated herein, fourslugs 15 are shown in a rectangular array and they are adapted toprovide stable seating engagement against the top cover C of the cashregister which, as illustrated, may be of a bluntly peakedconfiguration. It should also be noted that this mounting bararrangement is also directly applicable to registers having flat facedtop covers and the universal adaptability of the mounting bar to thesevarious register cover shapes simplifiges and facilitates manufactureand distribution of the rac The mounting bar is also provided withlengthwise spaced, lengthwise elongated slots 14S approximately at thelocation of the contact slugs to receive and be engaged by anchor screws16 such as are normally employed for fixing the top cover 10C to theregister 10. The elongated slots are located and sized to permit ofmating the mounting bar to substantially all existing registerarrangements, it again being important to achieve universal adaptabilityto arrangements of the existing registers.

The mounting bar extends lengthwise along the top cover of the registerand on the counter side thereof projects outwardly to overhang thecounter to a substantial extent. At an intermediate section along itslength, a cross bar 17 is fitted with a set of three mounting holes 17Hspaced to accommodate attachment of the cross bar to the outwardlyprojecting end of the mounting bar. Using the center and left-handmounting holes of the cross bar, it is adapted for attachment to themounting bar so that the center point of the cross bar is offset to theright relative to the center line of the mounting bar. Correspondingly,using the center and right hand mounting holes in the cross bar, it isattached to the mounting bar so that its center point is offset to theleft of the center line of the mounting bar. This arrangementaccommodates ready adaptation of the rack to either the righthand or theleft-hand types of check-out stations.

The cross bar, as best shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, is generally of angularcross-sectional configuration having a vertical flange 17F dependingfrom along its outboard edge and the cross bar is joined to the mountingbar so that the end of the mounting bar abuts this flange.

The cross bar is arranged to receive seat structure 18 for supportingand confining a set of display containers C which, as illustratedherein, may comprise a clear view type of circular plastic drum. Forthis purpose, the seat structure may comprise a plurality of opencentered generally cup-shaped seat rings 18 each having an annular baseor floor 18B for supporting engagement with the base of a drum and anupstanding circular flange 18F to confine the drum against accidentaldisplacement. The seat rings are preferably afiixed to the cross bar byspot welding.

Corresponding right-hand and left-hand sets of mounting holes 14LH and14RH (see FIG. 6), are provided at a location along the mounting bar 14that is outboard of the register and adjacent to the seat structure 18.Each set of three mounting holes is adapted to mate with holes in anattachment flange 19F of an angular mounting bracket 19 for the stampdispenser machine D. With the set of holes 14LH, the dispenser issecured to the mounting bar for left-hand check-out station arrangementsand with the opposite set of holes, the bracket is secured facing in theopposite direction to adapt the bar torighthand check-out stationarrangements. For purposes of illustration, the mounting bracket isillustrated in the preferred position in relation to the seat structure.With reference to FIG. 1, when the seat structure 18 is ofiset to therear, the stamp dispenser D faces forwardly and is located so that thedispenser is approximately flush with the forward edge of the seatstructure. With this arrangement, the display drums mask the dispenserto customers approaching and waiting in line at the checkout counter butexpose the dispenser machine to a customer being serviced at thecheck-out counter.

An alternative seat structure arrangement is shown in FIG. 7 wherein arectangular seating frame 20 elongated in a direction crosswise of achannelshaped mounting bar 14 is shown as providing a common mountingpocket for a set of three display drums of any suitable shape. Onceagain the seat structure ha a base flange 20B supporting the drums andan upstanding side flange 29F confining the drums against accidentaldisplacement. It will be apparent that the shape and size of the drumsas well as of the seat structure is subject to variation.

The important features of this invention reside in the provision of adisplay rack mountable to a cash register to extend outboard thereof andprovide mounting locations for display containers and for a stampdispenser machine. The machine is not only functional forsemiautomatically dispensing trading stamps but it attracts thecustomers eye to the display containers. The entire arrangement isspaced substantially above the counter so as not to block the flow oftraflic through the counter. Moreover, cigarette racks and related itemswhich have conventionally been attached to project upwardly andrearwardly of the register do not conflict with the present rack.Finally, the rack construction is such that it is adaptable to bothleft-hand and right-hand check-out station arrangements and it isconveniently adaptable to numerous different existing registerconstructions. This rack location lends itself to the mechandising ofsmall impulse type items since the rack is under the constantsurveillance of the check-out clerk.

It should he understood that the description of the preferred form ofthe invention is for the purpose of complying with Section 112, Title ofthe United States Code, and that the appended claims should be construedas broadly as the prior art will permit.

I claim:

1. In an arrangement wherein a check-out counter is located adjacent andparallel to a cash register and at a lower elevation than a top coverfor the register total section of the cash register and wherein asupport rack is mounted on the register for holding display mechandisein the view of a customer at said counter, the improvement wherein saidsupport rack comprises an elongated mounting bar of channel shapedtransverse cross-section and presenting underneath contact structuremating with the upper face of said top cover to locate said bar in amounted position to extend along and project outboard of an end of saidcover that is adjacent said counter, a cross bar fixed at anintermediate section thereof to a portion of said mounting barcompletely outboard of said register, and container mounting seatstructure fixed along said cross bar.

2. In an arrangement wherein a check-out counter is located adjacent andparallel to a cash register and at a lower elevation than a top coverfor the register total section of the cash register and wherein asupport rack is mounted on the register for holding display merchandisein the view of a customer at said counter, the improvement wherein saidsupport rack comprises an elongated mounting bar presenting underneathcontact structure mating with the upper face of said top cover to locatesaid bar in a mounted position to extend along said cover and projectoutboard of an end of said cover that is adjacent said counter, machinemounting seat structure fixed to an intermediate portion of saidmounting bar completely outboard of said register, a cross bar fixed atan intermediate section thereof to an end end portion of said mountingbar located further outboard of said register, and container mountingseat structure fixed along said cross bar.

3. In an arrangement in accordance with claim 2 wherein lengthwisespaced pairs of contact slugs are fixed in transversely symmetricalrelation to a midwidth plane 5 v 6 v I of said mounting bar to provide astable contact sur- References Cited in the file of this patent facearrangement for cooperation with said cover. I UNITED STATES PATENTS 4.In an arrangement 1n accordance w1th claim 2 wherein said mounting barhas lengthwise spaced, length- 1,620,407 S361? 1927 wise elongatedmounting slots to receive and be engaged 5 2,080,365 Laslter May 1937 bycover anchor screws for fixing the mounting bar and 117,771 Soplnsk1 May1938 the cover conjointly to said register. 2,185,907 A1XandeT 1 1940 5.In an arrangement in accordance with claim 2 2,296,028 Gnbble P 1942wherein said container mounting seat structure comprises 2,599,909George 1952 a plurality of circular seats spaced apart and fixed along10 2:776:757 Schoenlaub 8, 1957 the top of said cross bar.

